Q: How would you characterize your on-track mentality?
A: I would say, cautiously aggressive.

Q: Could you elaborate on that?
A: We walk a tightrope in making sure that we’re right on the ragged edge of disaster, and that’s honestly where the speed is. And it’s what separates the field and gives you the opportunity to win races and championships. It’s very easy to step over that line and to tear up equipment, to make mistakes. … If you’re not in the right mindset, you’ll create handling issues in the car that you can’t fix. So there’s a whole mental mindset that I’ve been able to zero in on, and from an effort level, really identify with 100 percent, and nothing more.

Q: What is your single biggest trait or characteristic that’s enabled you to be successful?
A: For me, individually, it’s sensations — sensations of what the car is doing. And from a team dynamic, after I feel those things, I need to be able to verbalize to them to my crew, and we have to communicate and sort through what are options are. But it all starts with me identifying the sensations I have in the car, and what we can do to make it more comfortable so I can drive it harder and faster.

Q: You were described as having a problem-solving mind like Peyton Manning.
A: I’ll take that. That’s a big compliment. The problems that you’re faced with during the course of a race being a long event, the cars don’t handle perfectly, and you have an ever-changing racing surface, and the grip level is diminishing throughout the course of the run, and you constantly had to adjust on the fly and let your instincts and your sensitivities to the car kind of evolve and come through it. … Peyton seems to be one to adjust on the fly well, and that’s certainly needed in our sport.

Q: How do you stay hungry after your six championships, including five in a row from 2006-11?
A: I’ve been racing since 5. I’m 38, so 33 years of my life I’ve been trying to be good at this sport, and honestly, in the last eight years, I’m finally good at it, and I don’t want to stop. I’ve put in 26, 28 years to get to this point (chuckle). After eight years of great success, I’m not ready to hang it up yet. I’ve dedicated my life to my sport, to my craft. … I grew up in a working-class family, and my parents still work today. And the work ethic that’s been instilled in me, coupled with I’m finally good at this … (chuckle) I still have a lot of years left in me.

Q: How much longer do you want to do it?
A: I don’t know. I’m in a very fortunate situation, with the success I’ve had, that I can quit under my own terms, and I’m gonna make sure I recognize and identify when the fire goes out. And I’ve always believed that if you’re competing, and the fire’s out, and you’re doing it for money reasons, or you picked the date, that’s when you’re in harm’s way and you’re gonna get hurt. I’m sure one year I’m gonna wake up and be like, “You know what? I don’t feel it anymore.” When that happens, that’s gonna be the guide for me.

Q: What are your thoughts on Derek Jeter announcing his retirement.
A: I think he has been a fantastic thing for New York. I hate that he’s had the injuries of late, and has definitely slowed down his final years with the Yankees. He’s a great guy. I get along with him well and certainly call him a friend, and hope that he has a solid year to walk out on, and it isn’t a year with injuries and other issues that kind of bring down the amazing career that he has had.

Q: How did you get to know Jeter?
A: Gatorade had a shoot for a commercial years back. They had all of the athletes together — actually in Boston. I was actually fearful of being with him in Boston, I figured that’d be a bad thing (laugh). We went out and we had some dinner and drinks, and I was pleasantly surprised that even people in Boston had respect for him.

Q: What criticism bothers you the most?
A: I have three very popular teammates [Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.] and the times fans want to claim that there isn’t information sharing going on, and that I’m not a good teammate, I’m not a company guy, and that stuff is so far from the truth. There’s a lot of criticism and it comes from a lot of different directions … that one seems to be the one that gets my blood pressure up the most.

Q: Worst fear?
A: Of not being good (chuckle).

Q: Does fear enter into your head during a race?
A: Of yeah. … It’s hard to see on television, but we honestly are on the edge of traction and are on the edge of crashing every single corner. And we learn as drivers to operate and exist in this fearful environment.

Q: You knew Junior Seau, who was diagnosed posthumously with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). What was your reaction to that tragedy, when he shot himself in the chest in 2012?
A: Just shock, and I still today cannot believe that he took his own life. What he stood for, what he supported, what he backed, and the interaction I had with him, and not letting things bring him down or others down — there was just a certain aura he had, and a message that he was about. And then, to see that, it just blew me away. I’m still in shock over it.

Q: Describe the 1994 Baja 1000 and how it changed your life.
A: Yeah, I had a big crash in the early-morning hours before the sun came up. I was trying to drive around the clock to complete the 1,000-mile race, and crashed. At that point in time, I was a very aggressive, young driver, and scaring myself that badly (chuckle), at points of the crash wondering and thinking — actually believing — that it was the end. I’ve been a complete and total different driver since then. A driver that’s been able to win championships … a driver that weighs risk versus reward , and prior to that, I was just taking all of the risks.

Q: Most emotional victory?
A: It would be my win in Atlanta in 2004. The weekend prior, we had a plane go down and lost 10 people, including Rick’s son, and Rick’s brother, and his brother John and his two daughters were on there, other close teammates and friends. And the following week we went to Atlanta and we were able to win. And all of Hendrick Motorsports was dealing with so much pain from Sunday to Sunday, and to win that race in Atlanta, and to do it in the honor of all of those people we list, it was by far the most emotional weekend.

Q: Describe your 2006 Daytona win.
A: That was big. Really in the winter of ’05, my crew chief [Chad Knaus] and I and Mr. Hendrick sat down and hashed out some things that were weighing on the team, and things that were bothering Chad and I both, and in the end hurting the performance of the team and the car. And we were able to have those tough conversations and then start the first race of the year with a victory, and then keep on winning after that and won our first championship in 2006.

Q: What is your state of readiness this weekend?
A: Feeling really good about it. We had a nice offseason. The team is eager and refreshed and ready to go. At the end of last year, we definitely had a dominant car, but it’s a new year with a new rule book.

Q: Why did you take a Dale Carnegie public-speaking course?
A: I was really young, and it was offered by my sponsor at the time. You have all these racecar drivers that are used to building their equipment, travel all around the country, and then they were out in front of a microphone (chuckle) and you couldn’t give a proper interview. So those courses were very helpful for me at a young age and helped me kind of adapt to the spokesperson/marketing side, and press side of our industry.

Q: You have an apartment in the West Village. What’s your favorite NYC restaurant?
A: Gosh there’s so many. … I just like the small little spots.

Q: Are you recognized around the city?
A: I am. I certainly am. I had cabs stop in the middle of the intersection and get out and give me a thumbs-up and wave to me, to people just on the street saying hello as well.

Q: How do you think you would fare as a NYC cab driver?
A: I wouldn’t do too bad. I have to say I’m very impressed with the skills that all the can drivers have. And I enjoy driving in the city. We have a car, and any chance I get, I love hopping in there and going to battle (chuckle) with the taxi-cab drivers.

Q: You still have not gotten a speeding ticket, is that correct?
A: Correct. I got a not-wearing-a-seatbelt ticket, and I did get another ticket actually in New York. I was on my cell phone in Manhattan, and I didn’t know that that was a bad thing. I was pulled over by someone on foot of all things, as humiliating as that sounds. I was pulled over by a cop on foot.

Q: You ran out of gas on the way to the airport once?
A: I did. And I did [Thursday] night.

Q: How do you explain that?
A: I just ignored the fuel warning, and I was literally just riding down the road, and when the engine shut off, it dawned on me, like “Ohmigosh, I forgot I was low on fuel.” And sure enough, I’m on the side of the road needing fuel (chuckle).

Q: Just curious: How do you deal with road rage?
A: The thing that gets me is when others feel like they’re gonna make an aggressive move towards me on the road. And I always chuckle. I’m like, “If you only knew what I did for a living? You’d probably second-guess your decision here.” So I always get a little laughter out of that.

Q: Superstitions?
A: Nothing that stood the test of time. I mean, there’s no doubt you have good and bad luck, but the pair of underwear you’re wearing isn’t gonna change that (chuckle).

Q: You play golf.
A: It’s a social thing for me. I’ve been playing a lot less, especially since I’ve had kids. I’d say the dominant hobby is the training and competing in triathlons and various running events from 5Ks up to half a marathon.

Q: Did fatherhood change you in any way?
A: Oh, for sure. There’s no way for it not to. … It’s not an easy job (chuckle), there’s no doubt about it, but it is so rewarding.

Q: Biggest influence growing up?
A: Without question my parents, my dad. There were certainly others along the way, but if my dad didn’t care and love, and to have the passion for motorsports that he did, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Plus all the sacrifices that my parents made to give me this opportunity.

Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Senna.” It’s a great snapshot into the world of racing and the passion and everything into it and behind it.

Q: A quote from you: “I’m still just a jackass from El Cajon.”
A: (Laugh). People have this impression that I had everything handed to me, it all came easy, a silver spoon, and that was in defense of one of those questions being asked me. I grew up in a lower-middle-class area east of San Diego, and people that have been through El Cajon or spent any time there know how many jackasses live there (laugh). I was born and raised there, and still carry that banner with me today.

Q: How do you feel when people call you Superman or Greatest of All Time?
A: Mark Martin started the Superman thing years ago. Greatest of All Time, I don’t know if it’s fair to head down that road yet. I’ve got a lot of years of driving left, and I haven’t surpassed the greats of Earnhardt [Dale Sr.] and [Richard] Petty so, I think the Six-Time label — it was Five-Time for the last few years, and now it’s turned into Six-Time, I think that’s a good nickname.

Q: What would you want your legacy to be?
A: Certainly the success on track and the competitive aspects are there, and nice to be acknowledged for, but … I feel like there’s a little more weight, and I have a little more of a focus on the person I am and the relationships I have in the garage area … the respect that I’ve been able to earn, the respect that I have for others. … That human-element side is something that’s been lost over the years, and I think it’s starting to come through now. I find a lot of other drivers are speaking about that. There’ve been some haters that have taken shots at me over the years (chuckle), I find other drivers defending and standing up for me. That’s kind of weighing on me today than I would have ever imagined.

Q: What is it like being Jimmie Johnson?
A: Not too bad (chuckle).

Q: Could you elaborate on that?
A: I really believe in hard work pays off. I have taken an open mindset and an open heart into my career, my relationship with my wife, my relationship with my kids, my friendships. … You put in the work, and you get the rewards. I have a beautiful wife, beautiful children, everyone’s healthy, amazing relationships and friendships, an amazing job. … It didn’t come easy. I had to put the work in. But again, going back to my upbringing, I’m not afraid of work. So, hard work equals good things.

Q: How would you feel if your children want to do what you do?
A: I wouldn’t have a problem with it. If they show that ability and desire, I’m behind ’em, whatever they want to do. I know my oldest [Genevieve Marie, 3] she’s definitely all girl, so I feel like she is not heading down that road, and we’ll have to see what Lydia [5 months] desires as she gets a little older.

Q: So the 3-year-old, you don’t expect another Danica Patrick?
A: No. She loves Danica, she’s kind of into cars, but she doesn’t have that [fearless] mentality, even on her bicycle or her scooter. She’s very cautious, and right now in slow speed.

Q: Anything else you want to say to all your fans in New York and elsewhere?
A: I appreciate their support. Many think that New York is very soft in viewership and interest in NASCAR. And out of my, I guess 12 or 13 years with being on the city now, I see something far different than that, and love the fact that New Yorkers love NASCAR and love auto racing.